Atjdiopticok



1,31 1,433. lntvntml July 29, 191.

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AUDIOPTICON.

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C. N. ANDREWS.

AUDIOPTICON.

4 SHEETS SHEET 3.

lzxivnivd July 29, 1915.

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MPLICAIION MLU) Nov. 1u. 1914 luillntcd July 22), 12H2).

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Il w a5. f@ 7W following is PATENT .t OFFICE.

i UNITED STATES CYR/US NEWTON ANDREWS, 0F YUCAIIA., CALIFORNIA.

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Specieetion of Letters ZPatent. Patented July 29, 1919.

Applicatie mee Nvember 1s, 1914. serial No. 872,853,

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CYnUs NEWTON AN- D/nnws, a citizen of the United States, resid, ing at Yucaipa, in the county of San Bernardino and ,State of California, have invented anew and useful Audiopticon, of which the a specification.

This invention relates to talking motion picture apparatus, andthe object of the inventionp. genera way isto provide means Vwhereby itis made practical to reproduce satisfactor'ila/s a unitary production, both the auditoryandfvisual parts of any entertainment or occurrence.

-It is understood that in order to accomplish this general object it -is necessary that the sound andmotion reproductions 4must appeal to the audience-as being synchronous and an obect' ofthe inventionv is to provide means Whereby'the eli'ect-of erfect synchro- (i) auditory `arts of the entertainment is secured for large audiences so as to aiiord-suiiicient distance *between the audience and picture-to give sufficient perspective. i.

In carrying" out this object, I have provided an apparatus including inter-indexed visual and auditory records and have also provided a special construction and arrangement of audlence chamber, seats therein and synchronizing means whereby said records can be started to ether at any qdetermined eriod, and have a so-provided means where- Y yV when the several records are being run, the'operator 4may `be kept informed estov their keeping in step with each other', and may restore, synchronism in case the records get out of step.

It is Well understood that in order to pro erly project a motion picture, a considera 1e distance is necessary between the screen and the projecting machine, and it is also well understood that a requisite distance must be maintained between the screen and theV eye of the beholder, consequently, the seats that-are close to the screen are undesirable, the spectator sitting in the seat close to the screen losing theperspectiye.

It has been` roposed in order to econorlize space Yin a hallJthat. the same be divided by aglass artition and a screen be placed at each end o the hall,1"the seats on one side of the partition facing the' screen on the other side.

An object of this invention is to effect the economy of spectorium hall space 'Without these. of the glass screen and in addition to 'seats oppositely arranged the optical exhibition to produce to a large audience in an eilective and pleasing manner the sounds accompanying the represented actions in nature. e

The invention therefore includes an entire apparatus .consisting 4of various parts and combinations of parts and to such apparatus and to some of the parts I have found it necessary toA give distinctive names and have coined appropriate names therefor as follows: The name audiopticon is used to designate the entire apparatus including @le audience hall having thc/double seating ai*- rangement with the motion picture screens at opposite ends, and my newly-invented apparatus for producing the synchronized motion and sound parts which latter apparatus I Vterm a phonetiscope. I term the projecting machine for so producing the optical part that it may be synchronized with a talking machine, a synchroscope. I term the talking machine constructed to synchronize a projecting machine a synchrophone,

Y he` synchronism between the synchro? scope and the synchrophone is maintained, directed and controlled by electro-motive force through an electric current.'

The complete combined tory apparatus comprises a hall having the on opposite sides of the center of the hall, the seats at one end facing "the other end of the hall, and vice versa; motion picture screens'at said opposite ends of the\hall, motion picture ma- (':line's' the ends of the hall, each arranged posite end of the hall; talking machines at the opposite ends of the hall, means for synchronously operating said machines, means for controlling the operation of said machines and means for bringing the record 'units of the several machines into correspending operation.

Although this invention is primarily designed for use in a seated hall in which the seats are arranged in two sections or stations so that pictures on one screen may be viewed by persons seated in said sections, over the hea'ds of persons seated in another section and viewing another screen, so as to enable all of Athe/occupants of the hall to view the pictures with a desired perspective it is understood that the invention is applicable in an auditorium where there are no seats and where it is desired that two groups of spectators may simultaneouslysee to the best advantage corresponding pictures simultanetures on said screens respectively, and a talking machine arranged to operate in synchronism with both of said picture machines so that practically two audiences see the scenes to the best advantage and at the same time hear the reproduction by the talking machine; the principle of the invention in this respect being that the audience 'composed of the, two sections viewing the screens respectively will both hear the same Iauditory production.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of a spectorium embodying my newly invented combined optical and auditory apparatus.

Fig. 2 is'a diagrammatic elevation of the combined optical and auditory apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing one of the oscillatory screens mounted in place in its perforated border.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic, representation of the various operating devices and their electrical connections in my newly invented apparatus. y

. ig. 5 is a fragmental view of the lilm ribbonfparts 'being broken away at intervals therealong to contract the view.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental front elevation from the right-of Fig. 7 showing the ribbon passin around the film sprockets and throug the ate of the projecting machine. A ortion o one of the circuit breakers is omitted for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental mid-sectional elevation viewed from line .e7-x', Fig. 6, the electrodes being shown in circuit breaking position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the circuit breakers taken on line in dicated by :vs -m8, Fig. 6 showing the electrodes in Contact with one another in circuit completing position.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view showing the stylus of one of the talking machines in operative position in the groove of one of the auditory record units.

Fig. 10 is an end'elevation from the right of Fig. 9, the scale bar being shown in section.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental plan view showing a modification of the inter-indexing as ap lied to the disk form of record.`

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic View showing a set of the talking machines and their electrically connected circuit breakers.

In the instance shown oppositely-arranged oscillatory screens 1 and 2 are `provided at opposite ends of the audience hall 3, said ha l being provided with oppositely-arranged seat-sections 4 and 5 that face a middle aisle 6, the seats 4 on one side of the aisle facing the screen 2 at the opposite end of the hall, and the seats 5 on the other side of the aisle facing the screen 41. Said screens 1, 2 are each pivoted at 7, 7 on vertical axes respectively to swing horizontally. An yorchestra pit 8 is suitably arranged in the audience hall 3 intermediate the seat sections 4, 5, and which in the instance shown is positioned at one side of the hall and opposite the middle aisle 6, said orchestra pit serving for the audience in both of the seat sections 4 and 5. An entrance 8" is arranged at the othen side of the hall opposite the middle aisle 6.

Operating rooms 9 and 9 are provided at each end of the Ahall immediately back of the screens 1 and 2, the room 9 housing a pair or set of picture-projecting machines 10, 11 and the room 9 ousing a pair of pictureproject-ing machines 12 and 13, said machines being respectively synchronously connected with talking machines forming oppositely-arranged sets 10', 11 and 12', 13 to reproduce the auditory part of the entertain-- ment simultaneously with the visual part.

The projecting machines are shown conventional in form and said machines in each of the operating rooms 9 and 9' are connected respectively to line shafts 14 and 1l by means of driving connections 15 and 15', said line shafts being driven at the same speed as one another by suitable power means which in the instance shown comprise individual electric motors 16 and 1G of the synchronous type that keep in step with the pulsationof the current `waves ina common circuit, and said motors are connected respectively to the line shafts b connections 17, 17', respectively. Shaiyts 18 and 18 turn continuously with said line shafts through the bevel gears 19, 19 and form the mandrels of the talking machines.

It is necessary in this case that the motors 16, 16 be synchronous in action in order that the line shafts 14, 14 may run at a unil form speed so that a definite uniformity in the speed of the respective projecting machines and their connected talking machines be secured, and for this purpose an electric s'ynchronizer 2O may be provided through which the current is passed to the motors from the power main 21. A double pole ,power switch 22 controls the electric current through the motor circuit 23 to stop and start said motors.-

Means are provided to operate the diagonally-arranged machines 10 and 12 as one unit and the diagonally-arranged machines 11 and 13 as Vanot-her unit to project views upon the screens 2 and 1 respectively which meanscomprise magnetic clutches 24, 24 of suitable construction arranged to throw the diagonally-arranged projecting machines 10 an 12 into operation together with their synchronously-connected talking machines; eticr clutches 25, 25 arranged to throw t e 'diagonally-arranged projecting machines' 11- and 13 into operation together with their synchronously-connected talking machines. A double pole switch 26 closes-4 and opens the battery circuit 27 to grip and release lthe clutches 24, 24 respectively while 4a similar switch 28 closes and opens the battery; :circuit 2,9 to grip and -release the clutches25, 25 respectively. These switches 26,' 28 together with the power switch 22 may be mounted at any suitable location in the hall, asfor instance in one of the operatingrooms 9y or 9.

' By this simultaneeusppration of a set of diagonally-arranged projecting machines, said machines may be .positioned upon a common horizontal level Vand at the same time project upon a pentai screen ateach end of the hall without the rays of one machine in any wayinterferingwith the rays from the other, the inside ad] acent rays from the diagonally-operating machines of a set being substantially parallel with one another, see Fig. 1. In this manner the audience in each of the seat sections 4, 5 is afforded a central view of the projected picture upon the screen in front.

Individual clutches 30 may be provided for each of the projecting machines 10, 11, v12 and 13, said clutches being manuallyopffrated to throwV the machines in either of the operating rooms 9 or. 9 out of commission 1n case it is desired to exhibit to an audience i'n but one of the seat sections 4 or 5.

The screens 1, 2 are arranged to swing horizontally by suitable means in order that they may be positioned at right angles to the picture rays from either of the diagonallyarranged projecting units 12, 10, or 13, 11

respectively, and said screens are placed in erforated borders 1'and 2" respectively, ehind Veach of which is suitably mounted the two .sets of talking machines that`are electrically timed to keep in step with two opposite projectingmachines.Y

Each set of talking machines consists of a pair that is electrically connected with each projecting machine and 'is adapted to be automatically operated alternately and in synchronism therewith and upon the oppo-A site set will alternate with one another to .continuously reproduce thc corresponding auditory part. By this alternating operation of a pair of talking machines, one or the hind to the screen in front and the usual peep holes p just above said orifices afford the operator a view therethrough. c

'In the present instance the visualy and auditory records may 'be considered as linear. The photographic or visual is a succession or line of pictures while the phonographic or auditory is an indented line or undulatory groove in a series of cylinders or disks. This gives two parallel records moving forward at a uniform speed, each record being distinct and independent of the other, but timed to keep in step with one another to produce the desired synchronous compound result. These linear records are also interindcxed in order that they may be started toether at an, determined portion thereof as ereinater described.

Means are provided for automatically and alternatively operating the talking machines of cach set, while the appropriate connected projecting machine is in action and said means are operated by the film ribbon 31 through an electro-motive forcev to thus maintain s vnchronism between the projecting and talking machines.

This means consists of two circuit breakers 32 and 33 suitably arranged adjacent the projecting aperture 34 in the usual head gate 35 of an ordinary projecting machine,

,said circuit breakers 32, 33 being adapted to work in conjunction with controlling slots 37, 38 respectively in the film ribbon 31 to unlatch the talking machines and start. the same into operation.

The film ribbon 31 has the usual head and tail portions 31 and 31 respectively withV the intermediate standard frames or picture views 39 and standard sprocket holes 40 along each side of said frames, which sprocket holes are arranged to run over the usual upper and lower film sprockets 41 and 42 respectively, mounted in the supporting frame 43 of the projecting machine. Said film ribbon is provided with extended side portions upon the outside of the sprocket ioles 40 to form index spaces 44 lthat are adapted to contain an index or cipher key of any preferred form, which index or key is also applied to the auditory record as hereinafter described.

An outer set of sprocket holes 45 is provided along the outer-edges of the index' space 44 and the holes are arranged tol reranged upon opposite sides of the frames 39 rela. ive to one another and as the ilm ribbon 3l passes down through the gate 35 said slots n" alternately act in conjunction with the circuit breakers 32 and 33, the slots 37 on one side acting with the circuit breaker 32 and the slots 38 on the other sidel acting in succession with thecireuit breaker 33.

The film is drawn into the gate 35 during its course through the projecting machine by -the usual intermittent movement of the lower sprockets 42 and 42' and said film is put under the usual slight tension byvpressure of t-he inner and outer gate members 46 and 4i' upon the film, said pressure being regulated by the. tlnunb screws 48.

Apertures 49 and 50 extend through both gate members 46'and 47 at each side of and in horizontal alinement with the cent-ral projet-ting aperture 34 and said apertures 49 and 50 are arranged -in 'vertical alinement with the slots 37 and 38 respectively in the film ribbon when said ribbon is in position upon the operating sprockets.

Each circuit breaker comprises oppositelyarranged electrodes 51, 52, that are adapted to extend into each of said apertures 49 and 50 from opposite sides thereof and press against the film as the same passes through the projecting machine. Said electrodes are supported in oppositely-arranged brackets 53, 5l secured to the gate members 46, 47 respectively by means of screws 55, the brackets being insulated from the gate members by the insulating pads 56. The electrodes 51 and 52 are reciprocatingly mounted in insulated bushings 57 secured in each of theV brackets 53, 5+ and have contacting buttons 58 at their ends and are provided with compression springs 59 that are interposed between said buttons and the bushings 57.

It is thus seen that the circuit breakers 32 and 33 of the various projecting machines are operatively mounted i n vertical alinement with the diagonally-arranged slots 37 and 3S, respectively, of the corresponding film ribbon and as the rib'bon is moved through the gate 35 the oppositely arrange-d electrode. buttons-5S of both circuit breakers are normally held apart by said ribbon, in opposition to their respective springs 59; the buttons of each circuit breaker being adapted to momentarily contact with one another, the buttons of one circuit breaker alternately operating with the buttons of the other circuit breaker through the diagonal slots` 3i' and 38, as the same move by to complete local battery circuits and operate suitable magnetic latches to alternately start the talking machines of the appro riate set into action. A slot 37 on one si e of the film ribbon together with circuit breaker 32 operates the magnetic latch 60 through the battery circuit 61 to start the talking machine 62 into action and a slot 38 on the other side of the mid-line of the film ribbon, together with the circuit breaker 33, operates the magnetic latch 63 through the battery circuit 64 to successively start the talking machines 65 into action.

The magnetic latches 60 and 63 for each set -of talking machines may be of any -desirable form, being similar in construction, application and arrangement, and are adapted to normally hold the respective cylinders inactive upon the revolving mandrels 18 or 18,'. In the present instance each latch comprises a plunger 66 adapted to seat in a detent 67 that is appropriately positioned in the side of each of the series of phonographic cylinders or auditory record units at the finishingends thereof, which lun r 66 is slidably mounted'in the cylin rica chamber 68 and is provided with an internal shoulder 69 against which seats a compression spring 7 0 that is coliled around the plunger and has its other end abutting against the forward end of said chamber. The longer extends through and projects beyondp-the rear end of the chamber 68 and has a notch 71 formed in its rear projecting portion which is adapted to be engaged iby -a suits/'ble catch 72 to hold the plunger in the detent 67 against the compression of the spring 69. Said-catch projects from an armature 73 that is monnted in placeto be operated by an electromagnet 74 through the appropriate circuit 61 or 64 to withdraw the catch 72 from the notch 71 and thereby allow the sprin 69 to retract the plunger from the detent 67, thus allowing the auditory record unit to start with its revolvin mandrel.

The visual and auditory records move forward at a uniform speed and while the talking machine stylus 75 travels along an auditory record unit, comprising the partial record upon one of the series of like cylinders 76 or disks 77, the film ribbon travels a definite proportional linear distance which distance varies according to the length of said record uni-t. y

The diagonally-arranged controlling slots 37, 38 are spaced at equal intervals along the film ribbon when there are no word inserts therein and said slots are at a distance from one another corresponding to the proportional length of one auditory record unit, but when such word inserts are provided in the ribbon thenthe distance between the controlling slots at that portion of the ribbon where the insert occurs must correspond to the proportional length of an auditory record plus the length of the insert.

When it is desired to make a word insert in the film it is positioned in the film corresponding to the finish of one of the record units of the auditory record and the controlling slot is omitted atthat point and advanced to the end 'of the insert, so that when the picture views are again thrown on the screen the appropriate talking machine is simultaneously thrown into action.

`In the present instance the cylindrical form. of record unit is arranged to run for a period of one minute making one hundred and sixty revolutionsduringthis period of time, while the filml ribbon travels nine hundred' and sixty 'frames in thesame period, giving six frames of film travel for one revolution of the cylindrical record unit. The pitch of the helical groove around the cylinders 76 is considerabl greater than the pitch in the usual -mmute record, which increased pitch minimizes the liability of the stylusz75` jumping -from the groove during operation.

(Means, are rovided to inter-index the visual and au itory records so that the visual and auditory reproductions can be easily correlated and produced simultaneously, and so that the portion of the record groove foreach picture view 39 will be clearly indicated, the index means on the ribbon 31 also making provision for replacing picture views that through accident or wear may have become mutilated or destroyed, and said inter-index means will now be described. v

Each cylindrical auditory record unit is provided with groove-indices 78, in this instancefrom one to one hundred and sixty, inclusive, designated by numerals provided on a scale bar 7 9 extending longitudinally along the mandrel, there being one index for each helical turn of the record groove and each auditory record unit cis ental indices :8D equal y spaced around t e erliliery of the' also rovided with se end cap 81 of the cylinder 6, t e space'between adjacent indices 80 representing onesixth of the'periphery measured circumferentally of said unit, said indices 80 being designated by numerals Zi marked on the periphery and outer erd said cap, thus making it possible by combining the grooveindices and the segmentalindices to designate nine hundred and sixty different segments of the record groove.

Since the relative travel of the stylus and record groove to the travel of the ribbon is proportional, in this instance as three to two, and since nine hundred and sixty picture views are exhibited during the time that one auditory record unit is reproduced it is clear that nine hundred and sixty picture views constitute a visual record section corresponding in. time of reproduction to said auditory record unit and that each picture view is designated on an auditory. record unit by the above-described indices.

The series of auditory record units 7 6 are consecutively numbered by numerals c in accordance with the order of reproduction of said units.

The film ribbon 31 is provided with index numerals a', b', c corres onding to the grooveindi`ces a, segmental-indices b and unit-indices c respectively, only alfew of said indices being shown in Fig. 5 on account of the contracted nature of the view.

The scale bar.79 that carries the grooveindices 78 of the auditory record is suitably supported to extend longitudinally along the mandrel, preferably just above the cylinders 76 when in place upon said mandrel.

An overhanging finger 82 is provided upon the st lus arm 83 and is adapted to -auditory record unit and eoperates with the indices 7 8 to designate the particular helical turn of the record groove that the stylus is traveling in and also *he particular set of six picture frames bein projected simultaneously with the repro uction of said helical turn, while the inner ed e 85 of the scale bar alines vertically with 51e segmental-indices 80 on the end cylinder cap 81 to designate what particular segment of a helical turn the stylus is traveling in, and also the definite icture frame bein simultaneously4 projected) at this position o the stylus.

This inter-indexing of the visual and auditor records makes it possible by combining t e auditory unit-indices, groove-indices and segmental-indices to determine the exact portion of record groove corresponding 'to any icture view, for instance in Fig. 9 the auditory index showsrecord unit number 3, helical turn number 129 and part of turn number 2 which osition corresponds on the film shownin lEig. 5 to the-picture ranie marked X and indicated by 3 2 in the index space 44.

Thus the visual record`ribbon has its picture views consecutively numbered by numbers a' in sub-groups, and has some of said picture views at definitely-spaced intervals numbered consecutively by numbers b' in groups, and also has some of said picture views at other longer spaced intervals numbered consecutively by numbers c in supergroups; and the vauditory record units are numbered consecutively bynumbers c to correspond with the numbers c vof the supergroups, and each of the auditory records has consecutive numbers a to correspond with the consecutive numbers a of the groups and has its diilerent circumferential segmental portions provided with numbers b to correspond with the consecutive numbers b of said sub-groups.

In case the auditory record is made upon a series of disk record units instead of cylindrical record units the inter-indexing is applied in the same manner, said disk having its grooves register with groove-indices a and having segmental-indices b and a unitindex c similar to the groove-indices a, segmental-indices b and unit-indices c rcspectively.

The auditory record units are caused to turn with. the mandrels by frictional contact, but it is understood that suitable clutch means may be used at the option of the constructor, such clutch means being well known in the art.

In practical operation the powerswitch 22 will be thrown to start-the power means and the screens 1v and 2 may be turned slightly as vindicated in Fig. 4, to receive the picture rays from the diagonal projectin machines 12, 10 respectively; after whic the magnetic switch 26 will be thrown to thereby operate said dia onal projecting machine unit together with its synchronously-connected talking machines 12', 10 respectively to produce the talking pictures upon each screen 1 and 2 for the audience in the seat sections 5 and 4 respectively.

and aul ditory record y one diagonal unit and its synchronously-connected talking machines is completed the screens 1 and 2 may be oppositely turned to receive the picture rays from the other ,diagonal projecting machines 13, 11 respectively when the ot 1er of the switches 28 may be thrown to operate said unit together with its synchronously-con nected talking machines 13', 11.

By arranging thetwo sections or sets 4, 5, of seats on opposite sides of the mid-line at 6 between'the screens 1, 2, and arrangling the, sets of seats at one end of the hall to face toward the screen at the other end of the hall, and vice versa, `that portion of the audience seated in the vseats of set 4, for instance, is located .1 sufficient distance from the screen to give the picture on screen 2 the proper perspective; and vice versa, the same is true with regard to the audience seated in the seats of set 5 for the purpose of viewing pictures on screen 1. In addition to this a further advantage arisesfrom locating the talking machine at that portion of the room where the audience is seated, thus to preserve the sense. ofy synchronism between the talking-machine and the picture on the screen that is inv view of the audience'. By thus operating the talking machines at both ends of the audience chamber simultaneously with the operation ct the picture machines at both ends, the effect upon the reversed audiences is that of a synchronous production, the nearness of the talking machine that is at one end of the chamber to the part of the audience viewing the picture on the screen that is at the other end of the chamber enables theV vertical axes and diagonally-arranged pic ture machines for projecting views on said screens.

Q. In combination, two oppositely arranged screens, a set of picture machines to project picture views on one of said screens, a set of picture machines to project picture views on the other of said screens, oppositely-arranged sets of seats whereby pictures on one of the screens may be viewed byoccupants of the seats arranged therefor, over the heads of the occupants of the seats arranged for the other screen, and vice versa, vand means to alternatively operate the picture machines of each set and to simultaneously operate the picture machines of different sets.

3. In' combination, two oppositely arranged oscillatory screens, seats arranged opposite said screens respectively, sets of picture machines to project picture views on said screens respectively, and means to alternatively operate th'e picture machines of each set and lo simultaneously operate the picture machines of different sets; the seats of cach set being arranged facing those of the other set so that the.screen viewed by the occupants of either set of seats will be viewed over the heads of the occupants of the other sets of seats.

4. In combination, two oppositely arranged screens, sets of picture machines to project picture views on said screens respectively, a set of talking machines, two oppositely-arranged sets of seats from which the views on the screens muy be seen. the seats of each .set being directed toward the screen for which said :seats 'are arranged rcspectively and also toward tlc sl is l the other set to allow the pictures viewed t'i fn the seats in either set to be viewed lu'cr ine heads of the occupants of the seats of the other set, and means to alternatively operate the picture machines of each set and io .si multaneously operate the picture machin .s of dil'erent sets and to simultaneously opcrate a talking machine in synchronism with each pair at one corner Qi the hall, andscreens at 'Qpposite ends of said hall designed tp: be a1ternative1y turned toward first one picture machine of each( pair and then toward lthe other picture machine of each pair, and seats arranged opposite 'to said screens for viewing the screens from opposite ends of the hal In testimon whereof, I have hereunto set m hand at 9th day of November, 1914.

CYRUS NEWTON ANDREWS.

In presence of- JAMES R. TOWNSEND, GEORGE H. HILEs, WILLIAM N. KIRKBY.

os Angeles, California, this 15 

